You've heard of intuition, but what
you may not realize is that it's a biological
survival tool. And while animals often
heed this sixth sense, humans tend
to let "rational" thinking override it.

Here's the thing: Intuition can guide
us to make smarter, faster choices,
says Gert Gigerenzer, PhD, author ofGut Feelings. We break down how
these feelings operate and offer tips
for harnessing their power.

What Intuition Is

"Gut instincts are mental shortcuts
used to make a snap judgment based
on experience and environment," says
David Myers, PhD, author of Intuition.
Your unconscious picks up on
clues below the surface of rational
awareness and communicates the info
to you via intuitive feelings. It's like a
little covert operation in your head.

These messages are sparked by perceptual
cues (e.g., people can tell when
a smile is fake yet can't explain why) or
by past situations. "Your brain has a
database of knowledge that your subconscious
sifts through," notes Gigerenzer.
So if you get bad vibes from a
coworker, on a deeper level you might
be noticing patterns between her and
someone else who mistreated you.

An unconscious nudge often manifests
physically, says Judith Orloff, MD, author
of Positive Energy — think a knot
in your stomach or feeling the hair on
the back of your neck stand on end.

But how can you tell if the jittery
anxiety you have before boarding a
plane is a subconscious SOS or just
nerves? "A gut instinct isn't accompanied
by fear," notes Dr. Orloff. "It
calmly advises you what to do."

How to Intuit

"Intuition is like a muscle," says Gigerenzer.
"It gets stronger with use." So
give it a workout by following your
instinct with inconsequential choices,
such as whether to wear jeans or black
pants. Assuming both look great on, it
doesn't matter which you go for. But
this exercise gets you in the habit of
relying on gut reactions instead of
analyzing ("I wore jeans the other day,
so I guess I'll do the pants"). Eventually,
listening to your inner voice will
become second nature and help you
out with important decisions.

Having trouble tuning in to your gut?
Jump-start it by making a logical decision,
but before doing anything, take
stock of how you feel about that conclusion.
Say you're dating two guys.
Pick the one who makes more sense
(has a better job, etc.). If your heart
sinks, you know the other guy is right.

Just remember that your intuition's
power depends on the breadth of your
experience. Example: While someone
who cooks regularly can wing a recipe
with terrific results, a less practiced
chef should probably stick to
the instructions. "In
unfamiliar territory,
give practical
thinking added
weight," notes
Gigerenzer. "The
unconscious and
conscious minds
were designed to
work in tandem."